A Hollywood Detour

Frank Tashlin's time as head of Columbia's cartoon division did not last long, but he directed some fine cartoons while he was there. This rarely seen example is a typical genre of cartoons in this period, with caricatures of Hollywood stars offered in a blackout gag structure. The stars shown are most those seen since the early 1930s, although such Columbia talent as Rita Hayworth, cast members of the BLONDIE series and the Three Stooges get their time on screen. We also get to hear Paul Frees as the narrator in his first credited screen appearance.

The pictures look like Tashlin's work at Schlesinger's unit, although the lush color is unusual for him. When he returned to Schlesinger, he worked on the unit's last black and white efforts. However, there are a couple of the extreme point-of-view shots he was fond of; his framing was the most realistic of cartoon directors, just as when he directed live-action movies, his players acted in a very cartoony fashion.